Electric switch



(No Model.)

- E. M. FRENCH. ELECTRIC SWITCH.-

N0 597,642. Patented Jan 18, 1898.

w g? j awwwboz W mmmq m uz/M W UNITED} STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EVERETT MASON FRENCH, OF STOUGHTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 597,642, dated January18, 1898. Application filed September 16, 1897. Serial No. 651,885. (Nomodel.)

To (055 whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EVERETT MASON FRENCH, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Stoughton, in the county of Norfolk and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElectric Switches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to improvements in electric switches, and hasmore particular relation to switches used in connection withelectric-lighting systems.

' The invention consists of certain novel constructions, combinations,and arrangements of parts, all of which will be hereinafter moreparticularly set forth and claimed.

The accompanying drawing represents a plan view of the switch embodyingmy invention, showing the circuit connections.

1 in the drawing represents the base; 2 and 3, the respectiveoperating-magnets; 4, a pivoted switch; 5, a battery; 6, a push-buttonfor turning on the lights, and 7 a pushbutton for extinguishing thelights. The base 1 is of any desired construction and material, with theexception that it is provided on its upper surface with a raised portionor ridge 8, upon which the pivoted switch-arm 4 is mounted by means of apivot-pin 9. Said pivot-pin 9 extends through the ridge 8 and base 1 andis connected under said base to a wire 10, which is connected in turn toa binding-post 11, which latter is adapted to receive one of the wires12 of the main lighting-circuit. The other wire 13 of saidlighting-cireuit vhich includes the lights 14, is connected to abinding-post 15, which is mounted on said base 1 and communicates with acontact stud 16, which projects upward through the base 1 and the ridge8, so as to form a contact for the movable end of the switch-arm 4, asuitable pin 17 being mounted on said ridge to limit the movement ofsaid switch-arm in one direction.

The magnets 2 are of any desired structure and are provided with aspring-pressed pivoted armature 18, the far end of which is connected toa cord l9,which is in turn connected to the switch-arm 4 to the rear ofits pivot-point,

so that when said armature is operated the forward end of saidswitch-arm will contact with the upper end of the stud 16, and thuscomplete the main lighting circuit. The wires from said magnets 2 areconnected, respectively, to binding-posts 20 and 21, mounted upon thebase 1. The post 21 is connected to one wire of the button 6, while thepost 20 is connected to one pole of the battery 5 by a wire 22, theremaining wire of said button 6 being connected to the opposite pole ofthe battery 5 by a wire 23.

The magnets 3 are practically the same as the magnets 2 and are mountedin a similar manner and provided with a similar armature connected tothe opposite side of the switch-arm 4. When these magnets are energized,their armature draws the operating end of the switch-arm out-of contactwith the upper end of the stud 16, and thus breaks the electric circuitin the main-circuit wire. One of the wires of said magnets 3 isconnected to the binding-post 20, while the remaining wire is connectedto a binding-post 24, which latter is in turn connected to one Wire ofthe button 7, the opposite wire of said button being connected to onepole of the battery 5 by a wire 25.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the buttonsoperating the lights may be placed in any part of the house and thelights turned on and 011: from any desired location without running themain -circuit Wires to such location. By this means the dangerous andexpensive practice of running the main-circuit wires to the severalpoints from which it is desired to operate the lights is altogetheravoided and the lights automatically started or extinguished by buttonsconnected to small independent wires operated by a very mild current.lVhen the button 6 is operated, the current of the battery 5 is throwninto the magnets 2, thereby drawing on the cord 19 and causing theswitch-arm 4 to move and complete the circuit of the main line. Vhen itis desired to extinguish the lights, the button 7 is operated, whichcauses the electrical impulse to take place in the magnets 3, thusoperating the switch-arm in an opposite direction and causing it to passout of contact with the head of the stud 16. The switch is thuspositively operated from which passes a current incapable otdoinganyinjury.

If so desired, a suitable protective casing may be placed over the topof the base 1, so as to inclose all of the Working parts and prevent anyunauthorized tampering With the switch-lever or its operating devices.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

In an electric switch, the combination with a suitable base, of oppositesets of electromagnets included in a local-battery circuit,

comprising a pair of push-buttons, each set of electromagnets having anarmature independent from that of the other, a pivoted switch-leverbetween and at a distance from said electromagnets coacting With aconducting-contact, and a main-line circuit including illuminatingdevices connected to the said pivoted switch-lever and theconducting-contact, and a cord extending in opposite directions from theend of the switch-lever farthest from the conducting-contact andattached to the free ends of the opposite armatures, whereby theilluminating devices in the mainline circuit may be controlled by thepushbuttons in the local-battery circuit for illuminating andextinguishing purposes with out carrying the heavy main-line Wires intoa building, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

EVERETT MASON FRENCH.

Witnesses:

H. F. BUsWnLL, JAMES J. PYE.

